Wisteria, coffee, mountains and fireflies: the delights of Rueili Scenic Area

Wisteria, coffee, mountains and fireflies: the delights of Rueili Scenic Area

2023-03-14

And now we head to Chiayi County, to check out the “city of purple.” It’s wisteria season in Rueili Scenic Area. Tourists flock to this part of Alishan National Park to see the distinctive purple flower bloom. One local restaurant even puts wisteria on its menu. But there are lots of other attractions in the area too. From local specialty coffees, to fireflies and spectacular views of the mountains, this hidden gem is a must-visit for nature lovers.

A tendril of wisteria hangs down like a waterfall. Visitors come to enjoy the dreamy landscape here in Rueili Scenic Area. March to April is wisteria season, and it’s a major highlight of Chiayi’s calendar.

Tourist
It’s like a dreamscape. I think the purple creates a kind of mysterious and soothing feeling.

Tourist
I’m from Malaysia. We only have fake wisteria there, no real wisteria. It’s beautiful here!

But the purple blossoms are not just for show: at this restaurant, they’re also on the menu.

Tofu is fried in the pan and doused in Rueili’s shiso plum sauce, then sprinkled with wisteria petals to make a gourmet dish that looks as exquisite as it tastes.

Tsung Wei
Restaurant owner
Normally, when we see wisteria, we just sniff its scent. It has a subtle, elegant fragrance. The heat of the cooking brings that fragrance out. The wisteria will be at its peak around Mar. 15. Anytime before the end of the month, it should be lovely to come down and admire the wisteria.

In recent years, Chiayi’s premium coffee growers have garnered many awards. Tourists now come here just for the cafe culture that has grown up in recent years. And at this eatery, a new generation of owners are bringing coffee into an innovative menu. This cutlet has been slowly simmered to perfection. It’s then bathed in arabica coffee, for an invigorating and mouth-watering dish.

A-hsiang
Restaurant owner
We have our own coffee plantation, our own coffee farm, so we thought we’d bring local ingredients into our food.

Nearby is another plantation that grows tea, as well as the “Geisha” variety of coffee beans. Visitors can sit outside under the shade of the coffee trees, to enjoy an unparalleled view of the mountains while they sip their drinks.

Yen Tsun-yu
Cafe owner
In the early days, we only grew tea. In recent years, we’ve also got into the coffee industry. When you come here and see the place, it’s such a lovely and relaxing environment in which to sit and drink tea or coffee.

And from this hotel you can look out of the window straight down onto the fields of tea,or up at the mountains. The owner says it’s grounding and relaxing for mind and body.

Yeh Li-chi
Hotel owner
When you wake up, first thing in the morning, you can see the mountains far off, and everything is lush and verdant. The air quality is great. Sometimes you can also admire a sea of clouds over the valley. It’s the wisteria season now, and then in April and May it will be firefly season. For an evening activity, we take visitors to go and see the fireflies.

For wisteria fans, now is the time to head to Chiayi. But if you’re happy to admire the many other natural wonders of the mountains, this “city of purple” has something for everyone all year long.